Obituary for
Don LeRoy Muenchausen

Having said goodbye to family members, Don LeRoy Muenchausen age 84, of Gardnerville, Nevada, passed away peacefully into God’s embrace on Saturday January 30, 2016. Don was born on May 25, 1931 to Fred and Elsa Muenchausen in Trenton, Michigan. He was a proud Korean War Veteran. Shortly after his service in the Army, he moved to California working at Douglas Aircraft working as a pattern maker, tool-designer and engineering supervisor with Arrowhead Products in Los Alamitos, CA until his retirement in 1993. After retirement, he moved to Gardnerville, Nevada in 1995 where he resided until his death.
Don married the love of his life, Mary Ann Clark in 1963 at Emmanuel Lutheran Church in La Habra, California. They lived in Brea raising children, attending church, and enjoying time with friends and family until retirement when they built their dream home in Gardnerville, NV with a view of the Sierra Nevada mountains.
Don had many special experiences throughout his life. He was a Square Dance caller starting up clubs in both southern California and Nevada. He loved cruising, leading many Square Dance tours on trips around the world. Many summers were spent camping with the children in the old VW van or in the RV as they retired. Teaching his grandchildren to fish, he believed they needed to “learn to clean what you eat” as a life experience they will never forget. He will often be remembered tamping down tobacco into a well-worn pipe and telling stories around a campfire. He took his young family back-packing in the Sierra’s, car-trips throughout the United States traveling during the summers to visit his home state Michigan. He enjoyed a good game of shooting Craps, and taught the kids on a homemade table in the old Brea home. He loved his church and had a deep faith. He was one of the first Elders and a chartered member at Shepherd of the Sierra in Carson, Nevada.
Don is survived by his loving wife, Mary Ann; his children: Marlene Swisshelm, Doug Muenchausen, Barb Tengesdal (Jeff), Chris Grubbs (Jim), Diana Muenchausen; grandchildren: Jenna Ervin, Thomas Grubbs, Jessica Williams, Raquel, Ashlee and Robert Bradley, Bethany Watkis, Chloe Muenchausen, Joren and Britta Tengesdal, and great grandchildren: Danyella, Malikhai, Jordan, Dominic, Barrett, Titan, DeSean and Kaleb. He was loved by many nieces, nephews and friends. He was preceded in death by his parents, brothers Delbert, Ralph, Harvey, his sister Janet, and son Carl.
Service will be held at Shepherd of the Sierra Lutheran Church, Saturday February 13, 2016 at 11:00am.